Apparatus for producing a color picture on recording paper

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for producing a color picture on recording paper in response to a color video signal includes a cylindrical platen having the recording paper circumferentially embraced about at least a portion thereof; a multi-color tape of the thermal transfer type having black, cyan, magenta and yellow colored pigments arranged in lengthwise strips on the tape; a head transfer carriage adapted for movement along the platen in the lengthwise direction thereof; black, cyan, magenta and yellow head groups associated with the black, cyan, magenta and yellow colored pigment strips of the tape and mounted on the head transfer carriage in close proximity to the surface of the platen so that the tape is situated between the head groups and the recording paper, each head group including eight heads for transferring the color of the respective pigment strip with which it is associated to the recording paper; and a control device for controlling movement of the head transfer carriage and head groups in the lengthwise direction of the platen, rotation of the platen, and operation of the heads of each head group for recording respective colors on the recording paper so as to produce the color picture thereon, the control section including a separation circuit for separating cyan, magenta and yellow color signals from the color video signal, color memory circuits for storing one frame of the respective color signals, and a control section for controlling operation of the memory circuits to supply the color signals to the heads.

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 201,779, filed Oct. 29,1980, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,566.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a hard color copyfrom a color information signal and, more particularly, is directed toan apparatus for producing a color picture on recording paper from acolor video signal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Apparatus for producing a color picture on recording paper in responseto a color information signal are known in the art. For example, suchapparatus may be included in a terminal unit for an electronic computerand which receives a color information signal from the computer or,which may receive a color video signal from a color video signalbroadcast. Such apparatus for producing a hard color copy hasconventionally been of the ink jet or electrostatic-print type and,therefore, is of a relatively large size and occupies a considerableamount of space. Further, because of the complexity of such conventionalapparatus, it is generally complicated in construction and difficult toservice and maintain. It should therefore be appreciated that such knownapparatus is not particularly suitable for home, or even office, use.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus forproducing a hard color copy from a color information signal that avoidsthe above-described difficulties encountered with the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provideapparatus for producing a hard color copy from a color informationsignal which is of relatively simple construction and may be constructedin a relatively compact size so as not to occupy an excessive amount ofspace.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for producing ahard color copy from a color information signal which provides forrelatively easy maintenance and service.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus forproducing a hard color copy from a color information signal which isinexpensive to manufacture and is suitable for home and office use.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, apparatus for producinga color picture on recording paper in response to a color informationsignal includes platen means associated with the recording paper, a tapehaving a plurality of different colored pigments thereon, a plurality ofheads, each associated with a respective one of the pigments fortransferring the respective color thereof to the recording paper, andcontrol means for controlling the plurality of heads in response to thecolor information signal to produce the color picture on the recordingpaper.

The above, and other, objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of apparatus for producing a colorpicture according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of apparatus for producing a colorpicture according to another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of one embodiment of a multi-color tape ofthe heat transfer type which may be used with this invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the multi-color tape of FIG. 2A;and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a control device that maybe used with this invention for controlling movement and operation ofthe plurality of heads with respect to the recording paper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1A thereof,there is shown an apparatus according to one embodiment of thisinvention for producing a hard color copy from a color informationsignal. As shown therein, the apparatus includes a platen 1 having arecording sheet of paper 3 circumferentially embraced thereabout along aportion of its length, with recording sheet 3 preferably being suppliedfrom a continuous paper supply roll 2. A multi-color tape 4, preferablyof a thermal transfer type, and a thermal head device 5 are alsoprovided, with multi-color tape 4 being positioned between thermal headdevice 5 and recording sheet 3 for producing a color picture onrecording sheet 3 in response to a color information signal. It is to benoted that the color picture may consist of any combination of words,symbols, characters, patterns, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, one embodiment of a multi-color tape 4of the thermal transfer type which may be used with the apparatus ofFIG. 1A is shown to include a base tape 4a, for example, of polyesterwith a width of 12 mm and a thickness of 12 μm, and a binder layer 4d,for example, a paraffin with a thickness of 5 μm and a width also of 12mm. Black, cyan, magenta and yellow color thermal sensitive pigmentlayers 4B, 4C, 4M and 4Y are each provided along respective longitudinalstrips of tape 4 and have a width of, for example, 3 mm. In forming thetape, heat is supplied to base tape 4a for a short period of time so asto slightly melt binder 4d. This results in the outer surface of tape 4and, more particularly, pigment layers 4B, 4C, 4M and 4Y thereon, beingcoated by the paraffin from binder layer 4d to prevent any of theprinting ink from the pigment layers being transferred to, for example,the fingers of the operator.

Thermal head device 5 includes four heating head groups 5B, 5C, 5M and5Y, each consisting of eight heating heads or transducers 5B₁,5B₂, . . .5B₈ ; 5C₁,5C₂, . . . 5C₈ ; 5M₁,5M₂, . . . 5M₈ ; and 5Y₁,5Y₂, . . . 5Y₈,respectively, which correspond to black, cyan, magenta and yellow colorpigment layers 4B, 4C, 4M and 4Y, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Theheating heads within each group are equally separated from each otherand the eight heads of each group occupy a width d₀ which is smallerthan the width of the respective pigment layers of tape 4. For example,if the width of each pigment layer is 3 mm, then the width occupied bythe eight heads of each group can be chosen as 2 mm, in which each groupof eight heads is centered with respect to a respective one of thepigment layers. Thus, adjacent heating head groups are separated by adistance d_(B) of 1 mm. It should therefore be appreciated that minorpositional deviation or error between the color pigment layers of tape 4and the heating head groups of thermal head device 5 does not result incolor misregistration of the color picture recorded on recording paper3.

Each of the heating heads is preferably made of a resistive materialwhich is heated when an electrical signal is supplied thereto. Thus, theheating of each heating head results in the paraffin of binder layer 4d,which is located between the respective heated head and recording paper3 and is in contact with recording paper 3, being melted so as to supplythe respective color pigment to recording paper 3.

Returning back to FIG. 1A, the apparatus according to this inventionfurther includes a head transfer carriage or base 6 which is adapted tomove in the lengthwise or X-axis direction of platen 1, as shown byarrows a and b. Thermal head device 5 is fixed on head transfer carriage6 in close proximity to platen 1 and is adapted to move with headtransfer carriage 6 in the lengthwise direction of platen 1. As shown inFIG. 1A, multi-color tape 4 is wound about a supply reel 7 and a take-upreel 8 and extends between such reels in the lengthwise direction ofplaten 1 between fixed guide rollers 20 and 21 located at opposite endsof platen 1. In addition, the tape extending between such guide rollers20 and 21 is further located between thermal head device 5 and recordingsheet 3 between a pair of guide rollers 18 and 19 which are mounted onhead transfer carriage 6 on opposite sides of thermal head device 5. Atape press or hold device is also provided on head transfer carriage 6and includes a tape press lever 13 rotatable about a pin 14 at one endthereof and biased in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1A, as indicatedby arrow c, by means of a spring 15 secured at one end to head transfercarriage 6 and at the other end to tape press lever 13. The tape pressdevice further includes a tape receiving member 16 fixedly mounted onhead transfer carriage 6 in close proximity to the free end of tapepress lever 13 and has a rubber plate 17 secured to the side thereoffacing tape press lever 13. It should therefore be appreciated that tapepress lever 13 is normally baised into engagement with rubber plate 17of tape receiving member 16 by means of spring 15 so as to grip tape 4.However, movement of multi-color tape 4 in the direction from supplyreel 7 to take-up reel 8, that is, in the right-to-left direction ofFIG. 1A, overcomes the force of spring 15 so that multi-color tape 4 isfree to move between tape press lever 13 and rubber plate 17. Thus, whenhead transfer carriage 6 moves in the direction of arrow a, supply reel7 does not supply any multi-color tape 4 so that tape 4 is free to movebetween tape press lever 13 and rubber plate 17, resulting in differentunused portions of tape 4 being disposed between thermal head device 5and recording sheet 3. At this time, take-up reel 8 is also inoperative.It should also be appreciated that during such movement, the positionalarrangement of guide roller 19, rubber plate 17 and tape press lever 13away from platen 1 results in the removal or peeling off of the usedportions of tape 4 from recording sheet 3. In other words, tape 4 doesnot stick to recording sheet 3 after the pigment colors therefrom aretransferred to recording sheet 3. In comparison to such operation, whenhead transfer carriage 6 moves in the direction of arrow b, tape presslever 13 clamps tape 4 to rubber plate 17 to prevent movementtherebetween. In order to prevent tape 4 from breaking during suchmovement, supply reel 7 supplies multicolor tape 4 to the apparatus.Also, at such time, take-up reel 8 is activated to take up slack in theused tape caused by such movement of head transfer carriage 6.

The apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG. 1A also includes asupply tension regulating device disposed between guide roller 20 andsupply reel 7 for taking up any slack in multi-color tape 4 locatedbetween thermal head device 5 and supply reel 7. The supply tensionregulating device includes a tension regulating lever 9 pivoted at oneend about a pivot pin 9' and having its free end biased into engagementwith the tape extending between guide roller 20 and supply reel 7 bymeans of a tension spring 10. Thus, when head transfer carriage 6 movesin the direction of arrow a, tension regulating lever 9 takes up anyslack in the tape that may result from, for example, extension of tape 4caused by heat applied thereto from the heating heads of thermal headdevice 5. A take-up tension regulating device is, in like manner,provided between guide roller 21 and take-up reel 8 for taking up anyslack in tape 4 located between thermal head device 5 and take-up reel8. In particular, the take-up tension regulating device includes atension regulating lever 11 pivoted at one end about a pivot pin 11' andhaving its free end biased into engagement with the tape extendingbetween guide roller 21 and take-up reel 8 by means of a tension spring12. The take-up tension regulating device takes up any excess slack intape 4 which extends between take-up reel 8 and the free end of tapepress lever 13 and which is not wound about take-up reel 8 when headtransfer carriage 6 moves in the direction of arrow b of FIG. 1A.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, apparatus according to another embodiment ofthis invention for producing a hard color copy will now be described,with elements corresponding to those described with reference to theembodiment of FIG. 1A being identified by the same reference numerals.The apparatus of FIG. 1B is identical to that of FIG. 1A with theexception that the supply and take-up tension regulating devices areeliminated and guide rollers 20 and 21 are fixed at opposite ends ofhead transfer carriage 6. Thus, when head transfer carriage 6 is movedin the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1B, supply reel 7 and take-up reel 8are activated to maintain tape 4 with a predetermined tensiontherebetween. In other words, supply reel 7 and take-up reel 8 performthe function of the supply and take-up tension regulating devices ofFIG. 1A. When head transfer carriage 6 moves in the direction of arrowb, supply reel 7 supplies a necessary amount of tape 4 and take-up reel8 takes up any excess tape, in the same manner as the apparatus of FIG.1A.

A control device for controlling movement of head transfer carriage 6,thermal head device 5, and platen 1 will now be discussed in regard toFIG. 3. As shown therein, a color information signal, such as a colorvideo signal, is supplied to an input terminal 10 which, in turn,supplies the color video signal to a decoder circuit 11 which separatesthe color video signal into a red color signal R, a green color signalG, a blue color signal B, and horizontal and vertical synchronizingsignals S_(H) and S_(V). The red, green and blue color signals R, G andB are then supplied to a converter circuit 12 which produces a cyancolor signal C, a magenta color signal M and a yellow color signal Yfrom the primary color signals R, G and B. In particular, cyan colorsignal C is formed from the combination of the green and blue colorsignals G and B, the magenta color signal M is formed from thecombination of the blue and red color signals B and R, and the yellowcolor signal Y is formed from the combination of the red and green colorsignals R and G. A cyan memory circuit 13 receives the cyan color signalC from converter circuit 12 and stores one frame of such signal therein.In like manner, a magenta memory circuit 14 receives the magenta colorsignal M from converter circuit 12 and stores one frame of such signaltherein, and a yellow memory circuit 15 receives the yellow color signalY from converter circuit 12 and stores one frame of such signal therein.The horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals S_(H) and S_(V) fromdecoder circuit 11 are supplied to a control section 16 of the controldevice which is used for controlling the operation of cyan, magenta andyellow memory circuits 13, 14 and 15. Control section 16 preferablyincludes a clock generator, a timing generator, an X-axis counter fordetermining the position of thermal head device 5 in the horizontal orlengthwise direction of platen 1, a Y-axis counter for determining thevertical position of thermal head device 5, and other circuitry. Controlsection 16 produces a WRITE signal at an output terminal 16a and a WRITEADDRESS signal at an output terminal 16b, both of which are supplied tocyan, magenta and yellow memory circuits 13, 14 and 15 for controllingthe writing of each frame of cyan, magenta and yellow color signals fromconverter circuit 12 into memory circuits 13, 14 and 15 at predeterminedaddresses thereof. Further, control section 16 receives a COPY STARTsignal at an input terminal 17 thereof which initiates the writingoperation so that a WRITE signal and WRITE ADDRESS signal are suppliedto cyan, magenta and yellow memory circuits 13, 14 and 15, wherein suchcircuits store one frame of the respective color components of a colorvideo signal.

The output signals from cyan, magenta and yellow memory circuits 13, 14and 15 are supplied to latch circuits 18C, 18M and 18Y, respectively,each of which has a memory storage capacity for storing eight pictureelements aligned in the vertical direction. In particular, latch circuit18C is adapted to store eight vertically aligned cyan color pictureelements for a given horizontal or X-axis position along platen 1. Inlike manner, latch circuit 18M is adapted to store eight magenta pictureelements aligned in the vertical direction for the same horizontalposition along platen 1, and latch circuit 18Y is adapted to store eightyellow picture elements aligned in the vertical direction andcorresponding to the same horizontal position along platen 1. The outputsignals from cyan, magenta and yellow memory circuits 13, 14 and 15 arealso supplied to an AND circuit 19 which supplies an output signal toanother latch circuit 18B which is used to control the black head group5B. As with the other latch circuits, latch circuit 18B has a memorystorage capacity for eight black picture elements aligned in thevertical direction for the same horizontal position on platen 1.

Control section 16 also produces READ ADDRESS signals which are suppliedto memory circuits 13, 14 and 15 for controlling which portion of thesignals are to be read out therefrom. In particular, control section 16produces a CYAN READ ADDRESS signal at an output terminal 16f thereofwhich is supplied to cyan memory circuit 13. In response thereto, cyanmemory circuit 13 reads out signals corresponding to eight pictureelements between vertical points or lines Y_(n) and Y_(n+12) on theY-axis of platen 1 and corresponding to a fixed horizontal positionX_(m) on the X-axis thereof. For example, for the first line X₀ in thehorizontal or X-axis direction, eight picture elements situated betweenvertical lines Y₀ and Y₁₂ are read out and supplied to AND circuit 19and latch circuit 18C. It should be appreciated that the reason thatonly eight picture elements in the vertical or Y-axis direction are readfrom cyan memory circuit 13 is because only eight heads 5C₁ -5C₈ areprovided in cyan head group 5C, with the eight heads being centeredwithin the strip of cyan color pigment 4C on tape 4. For example, assumethat the width of cyan color pigment strip 4C is 3 mm and that the eightcyan heads 5C₁ -5C₈ occupy a width d₀ on such strip of 2 mm with safetystrips on both sides thereof that are not occupied by the heads andwhich has a combined width d_(B) of 1 mm. Since the width d_(B) isone-half the width d₀, the width d_(B) corresponds to four pictureelements so that a width of 12 picture elements must be provided withinwhich the eight picture elements are located in order to assure thatheads 5C₁ -5C₈ receive the appropriate signals. In like manner, magentamemory circuit 14 receives a MAGENTA READ ADDRESS signal from an outputterminal 16e of control section 16 and, in response thereto, reads outsignals corresponding to eight picture elements situated betweenvertical points or lines Y_(n+13) and Y_(n+24) at the same horizontal orX-axis location X_(m). For example, signals corresponding to eightmagenta picture elements may be read out from magenta memory circuit 14which are situated between vertical lines Y₁₃ and Y₂₄ for the firsthorizontal line X₀. The signals from magenta memory circuit 14 aresupplied to latch circuit 18M and AND circuit 19. Also, yellow memorycircuit 15 receives a YELLOW READ ADDRESS signal from an output terminal16d of control section 16 and, in response thereto, reads out signalscorresponding to eight yellow picture elements situated between verticallines Y_(n+25) and Y_(n+36). For example, and in accordance with theprevious examples for cyan and magenta memory circuits 13 and 14, yellowmemory circuit 15 reads out signals corresponding to eight yellowpicture elements situated between lines Y₂₅ and Y₃₆ at the samehorizontal location X₀ on platen 1. Such signals from yellow memorycircuit 15 are supplied to latch circuit 18Y and AND circuit 19. In likemanner, a BLACK READ ADDRESS signal is supplied from an output terminal16c of control section 16 to each of cyan, magenta and yellow memorycircuits 13, 14 and 15, wherein each of the memory circuits reads outsignals corresponding to eight picture elements between vertical linesY_(n-12) and Y_(n-1). Such signals are supplied to AND circuit 19. Itshould therefore be appreciated that AND gate 19 provides a blackcontrol signal to latch circuit 18B only when cyan, magenta and yellowcolor signals are all present at a particular vertical point.

Each of latch circuits 18B, 18C, 18M and 18Y has eight output terminalscorresponding to the eight picture elements supplied thereto. Further,latch circuits 18B, 18C, 18M and 18Y are supplied with the READ ADDRESSsignals from output terminals 16c, 16d, 16e and 16f, respectively forcontrolling the reading operation from such latch circuits. Signalscorresponding to picture elements from latch circuit 18B are supplied toa driver circuit 20B which, in turn, is connected to black heating heads5B₁ -5B₈ for controlling the operation thereof. In like manner, eightoutput terminals from latch circuit 18C are connected to drive circuit20C which, in turn, is connected to cyan heating heads 5C₁ -5C₈ forcontrolling the operation thereof. Also, the eight output terminals fromlatch circuits 18M and 18Y are connected to driver circuits 20M and 20Y,respectively, which, in turn, are connected to magenta heating heads 5M₁-5M₈ and yellow heating heads 5Y₁ -5Y₈, respectively, for controllingthe respective operations thereof.

Control section 16 also produces a head transfer signal at an outputterminal 16h thereof which is supplied through a drive circuit 21 to adrive motor 22 which moves head transfer carriage 6 in the longitudinalor X-axis direction along platen 1. For example, drive motor 22 may be astep motor which moves head transfer carriage 6 in the X-axis directionof platen 1 by one picture element after a predetermined amount of time,for example, 5 ms. Thus, when head transfer carriage 6 and thermal headdevice 5 which is fixed thereon are moved to a horizontal or X-axisposition along platen 1, control section 16 produces a print controlsignal at an output terminal 16g thereof which is supplied to drivercircuits 20B, 20C, 20M and 20Y as a gate signal therefor so that theoutput signals from such driver circuits are supplied to heating heads5B₁ -5B₈, 5C₁ -5C₈, 5M₁ -5M₈ and 5Y₁ -5Y₈, respectively. It should beappreciated that the signals from driver circuits 20B, 20C, 20M and 20Yare supplied to the respective heating heads for a predetermined amountof time which is less than the time in which drive motor 22 moves headtransfer carriage 6 in the horizontal direction. For example, if headtransfer carriage 6 is moved in the horizontal or X-axis direction byone picture element every 5 ms, the output signals from drive circuits20B, 20C, 20M and 20Y are supplied to their respective heating heads ina smaller amount of time, for example, 2.5 ms, to assure accurateoperation.

In addition, a paper feed control signal is produced by control section16 at an output terminal 16i thereof and supplied through a drivecircuit 23 to a motor 24 which rotates platen 1 so as to control thevertical position of the printing on recording paper 3 located onplaten 1. For example, after head transfer carriage 6 and thermal headdevice 5 complete one horizontal line along platen 1, and are returnedto the left-most position of platen 1 in FIG. 1A, motor 24, in responseto the signal produced at output terminal 16i of control section 16rotates platen 1 by, for example, 2 mm which corresponds to the areacovered by each of the head groups 5B, 5C, 5M and 5Y. The aboveoperation is continually repeated until the entire frame of the colorvideo signal is read from memory circuits 13, 14 and 15 so that a colorpicture corresponding to the color video signal supplied to inputterminal 10 is recorded on recording sheet 3 to obtain a hard color copyof a desired character, pattern, or the like.

It should therefore be appreciated that the present invention is ofrelatively simple construction and of a compact size. Further, since thetransfer of color from the respective pigment layers to recording sheet3 is accomplished by a thermal transfer operation, conventional papercan be utilized as the recording paper. It should be further appreciatedthat, because of the relative simplicity of the apparatus, maintenanceof the apparatus is relatively easy and inexpensive and can thus beeasily employed in home or office use. For example, when tape 4 iscompletely used, it is a simple operation to substitute a newmulti-color tape 4 for the used multi-color tape 4. The presentinvention also has the advantage of providing a separate black colorstrip 4B on tape 4 which is separate from the cyan, magenta and yellowcolor strips 4C, 4M and 4Y, and it is therefore unnecessary to transferall of the cyan, magenta and yellow colors to the recording sheet inorder to provide a black color.

It is to be appreciated, however, that various modifications may be madewithin the scope of this invention. For example, although cyan, magentaand yellow colors have been illustrated, other colors such as blue,green and red may be utilized in place thereof. It is also possible toprovide additional colors, in addition to the cyan, magenta and yellowcolors, by combining such latter colors in the recording operation. Inaddition, although multi-color tape 4 is fed from supply reel 7 in theembodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, multi-color tape 4 may be of the endlesstype. With such modification, the endless tape could be gripped by aroller, for example, in the shape of a cylindrical post having amulti-colored coating on its outer surface corresponding to the coatingon the endless thermal transfer multi-colored tape 4, and a heatingroller associated with such roller which is heated at, for example,70°-100° C., in order to continually replenish the colors on the endlesstape.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that variouschanges and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in theart without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for producing visual information onrecording paper in response to an information signal, comprising:platenmeans associated with said recording paper; recording head means adaptedto transfer onto said paper a pigment from a tape positioned betweensaid recording head means and said paper so as to record said visualinformation on said recording paper; control means for controlling saidrecording head means in response to said information signal toselectively transfer said pigment onto said recording paper; a supplyreel and a take-up reel between which said tape extends; a first tensionregulating lever pivoted at one end about a pivot pin and having itsfree end biased into engagement with said tape proximately said supplyreel by means of a first tension spring; and a second tension regulatinglever independently operable from said first tension regulating leverand being pivoted at one end about a pivot pin and having its free endbiased into engagement with said tape proximate said take-up reel bymeans of a second tension spring.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1;further comprising first and second tape guide rollers disposed oneither side of said recording head means for guiding said tape and meansfor mounting said first tension regulating lever between said first tapeguide roller and said supply reel and for mounting said second tensionregulating lever between said second tape guide roller and said take-upreel.
 3. Apparatus for producing visual information on recording paperin response to an information signal, comprising:platen means associatedwith said recording paper; recording head means adapted to transfer apigment from a tape positioned between said recording head means andsaid paper on said paper so as to record said visual information on saidrecording paper; control means for controlling said recording head meansin response to said information signal to selectively transfer saidpigment on said recording paper; and tape press means including a rubberplate and a tape press lever with said tape arranged for mutual contacttherebetween, said tape press lever being pivotably mounted at one endand having a rounded free end, for providing a small contact area withsaid tape and biasing means for urging said free end of said tape presslever toward said rubber plate to grip said tape therebetween, therebypermitting movement of said tape between said recording head means andsaid recording paper in only one direction.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 3; in which said information signal is a color information signal;said tape has a plurality of different colored pigments thereon; saidrecording head means includes a plurality of recording heads, eachassociated with a respective one of said pigments for transferring therespective color thereof on said recording paper; and said control meansincludes separation means for separating color signals corresponding tothe different colors of said pigments from said color informationsignal, memory means for storing said color signals, and a controlsection for controlling the operation of said memory means to supplysaid color signals to said plurality of heads for transferring therespective colors of said pigments associated with said plurality ofheads to said recording paper.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4; inwhich said memory means includes a plurality of memory devices, eachadapted to store a respective one of said color signals, and saidcontrol section supplies WRITE and READ control signals to saidplurality of memory devices for controlling the writing and reading ofsaid color signals into and from said plurality of memory devices. 6.Apparatus according to claim 5; in which said control section furtherincludes a plurality of latch means, each adapted to receive colorsignals read out from a respective one of said memory devices, and aplurality of driver means, each associated with respective ones of saidplurality of heads for controlling the recording operation of saidrespective ones of said plurality of heads in response to a respectiveone of said latch means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6; in which oneof the colors of the pigments on said tape is black and in which saidcontrol section further includes gate means receiving signals from eachof said memory devices and for producing an output signal when each ofthe signals from said plurality of memory devices satisfies apredetermined condition, black level latch means receiving said outputsignal from said gate means, and black level driver means forcontrolling the recording operation of those heads associated with saidblack colored pigment on said tape in response to said black level latchmeans.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7; in which said control sectionsupplies said READ control signals to said black level latch means andsaid plurality of latch means and supplies a print control signal tosaid black level driver means and said plurality of driver means so asto control the timing of the recording operation by said plurality ofheads.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8; in which said colorinformation signal is a color video signal having horizontal andvertical synchronizing signals; said separation means separates saidcolor signals and said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signalsfrom said color video signal; each of said memory devices stores oneframe of the respective color signal supplied thereto; and said controlsection controls the operation of said plurality of memory devices, saidplurality of latch means and said plurality of driver means in responseto said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 9; in which said separation means includes decodermeans for separating red, green and blue primary color signals and saidhorizontal and vertical synchronizing signals from said color videosignal, and converter means for producing cyan, magenta and yellow colorsignals from said red, green and blue primary color signals. 11.Apparatus according to claim 3; in which said platen means includes acylindrical platen and said apparatus further includes carriage meanshaving said recording head means secured thereon in close proximity tothe cylindrical surface of said platen, said carriage means beingadapted to move in the lengthwise direction of said platen. 12.Apparatus according to claim 11; further including motor means formoving said carriage means in the lengthwise direction of said platen,and said control means controls the operation of said motor means tomove said carriage means in said lengthwise direction.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 11; in which said tape is positioned between saidrecording head means and said recording paper with said differentcolored pigments thereon facing toward said recording paper. 14.Apparatus according to claim 3; in which said platen means includes acylindrical platen having a central axis, said apparatus furtherincludes motor means for rotating said platen about its central axis,and said control means controls the operation of said motor means torotate said platen about its central axis.
 15. Apparatus according toclaim 3; in which said tape is a multi-color tape of the thermaltransfer type and includes a base tape, a binder layer on said base tapeand a plurality of different colored pigments arranged in lengthwisestrips on said binder layer.